1. SIMILE METAPHOR ALLUSION HYPERBOLE UNDERSTATEMENT
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
SIMILE
METAPHOR
ALLUSION
HYPERBOLE
UNDERSTATEMENT

2. Rhetorical Analysis
What the Author Does
What You Do
Rhetorical analysis is looking at HOW the author writes, rather than WHAT he actually wrote. To do this, you will analyze the devices and techniques the author uses to achieve his goal or purpose of writing his piece.
Rhetorical devices are the tools the writer uses to produce the writing.
Rhetorical technique is the way that the author uses these tools or devices.

3. Rhetorical Devices
Simile
Metaphor
Allusion
Hyperbole
Understatement

4. Eva’s eyes are as green as emeralds. 2
SIMILES: A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, using explicit words such as like, as, resembles, or than.
Eva’s eyes are as green as emeralds.
The moon shines like a fifty-cent piece.
A complexion smoother than polished marble
A mind resembling a deep cave

5. 3
METAPHOR: A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, in which one becomes another thing without the use of the words like, as, than, or resembles.
Direct metaphor directly compares the two things by the use of a verb such as is.
The city is a sleeping woman.
Implied metaphor implies or suggests the comparison between the two things, without using is.
The city sleeps peacefully.

6. 1
ALLUSION: is an indirect reference to another idea, person, place event, artwork, etc., or to the meaning of the work in which it appears. Allusions can be mythological, biblical, historical, literary, political or contemporary.
The writer assumes that the audience or a specific part of the audience will already have knowledge about the item being referred to.
“The killer wore the mark of Cain as he stalked his brother”
Biblical story of Cain and Abel
“Hiroshima”
Reference to the Japanese city destroyed by the atomic bomb

7. 5
HYPERBOLE: An exaggeration or overstatement to emphasize a point or to achieve a specific effect that can be serious, humorous, sarcastic, or even ironic.
So you have turned on the TV broadcast of your favorite football team’s afternoon game. The commentators are excited to tell the audience what a great game it’s going to be, with the two unbeatable quarterbacks of these two super teams battling it out on their way to winning the greatest of sports trophies, the immortal coach Lombardi trophy.
If I don’t eat something right away, I’ll starve.

8. 6
UNDERSTATEMENT: the other side of hyperbole. A writer uses this to minimize the obvious importance of someone or something, assuming that the audience knows the subject’s significance.
As with hyperbole, the intended effect of understatement can be serious, humorous, sarcastic, or ironic. In many case, it indicates politeness, humility or tact.
To hear a firefighter describe the rescue of a family from its fiery home as “just doing my job” is an example of understatement. Here the firefighter is being humble about his bravery, and the effect on the audience is ironic.
World hunger can be solved by giving everyone food.

9. 5. HYPERBOLE: An exaggeration used to emphasize a point. 1
1. RHETORICAL ANALYSIS: Rhetorical devices are the tools the writer uses to produce the writing. Rhetorical technique is the way that the author uses these tools or devices.
2. SIMILES: A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, using explicit words such as like, as, resembles, or than.
3. METAPHOR: A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, in which one becomes another thing without the use of the words like, as, than, or resembles.
4.ALLUSION: An indirect reference to another idea, person, place event, artwork, etc., to the meaning of the work in which it appears.
5. HYPERBOLE: An exaggeration used to emphasize a point.
6.UNDERSTATEMENT: The other side of hyperbole. A writer uses this to minimize the obvious importance of someone or something, assuming that the audience knows the subject’s significance

10. 3. A road is used to go places. 9
1.A fantastic young hitter on a baseball team is called the “new Hank Aaron” by the local sportswriters.
2.In Mark Twain’s “Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” the claim that Jim Smiley would follow a bug as far as Mexico to win a bet is a hyperbole of comic effect.
3. A road is used to go places.
4. In “The Scarlet Ibis”, it says: “I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two, vines, life and death.  
5. “The muscles on his brawny arms are as strong as iron bands”

11. 3. A road is used to go places. Understatement (Oversimplification) 10
1.A fantastic young hitter on a baseball team is called the “new Hank Aaron” by the local sportswriters. Allusion
2.In Mark Twain’s “Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” the claim that Jim Smiley would follow a bug as far as Mexico to win a bet is a hyperbole of comic effect. Hyperbole
3. A road is used to go places. Understatement (Oversimplification)
4. In “The Scarlet Ibis”, it says: “I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two, vines, life and death.  Metaphor
5. “The muscles on his brawny arms are as strong as iron bands”Simile

12. 3. Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy. 11
1. And we looked straight into the eyes of the Council, but their eyes were as cold blue glass buttons. (From Anthem)
2. But we could not follow, for we were losing the puddle of light behind us. (From Anthem)
3. Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy.
4. You could liquidate the stock here and feed an African nation for a year.
5. 5. I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s

13. 3. Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy. UNDERSTATEMENT 12
1. And we looked straight into the eyes of the Council, but their eyes were as cold blue glass buttons. (From Anthem) SIMILE
2. But we could not follow, for we were losing the puddle of light behind us. (From Anthem) METAPHOR
3. Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy. UNDERSTATEMENT
4. You could liquidate the stock here and feed an African nation for a year. HYPERBOLE
5. I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s ALLUSION

14. 3. Celebrities are all important people. 13
1. In the state football playoffs, the Tigers were a real Cinderella team.
2. Rainsford from “The Most Dangerous Game” describes himself: “I was the mouse to the Cossack’s cat.”
3. Celebrities are all important people.
4. Romeo and Juliet “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!”
5. Isaac Singer “The short story is like a room to be unfurnished; the novel is like a warehouse.”

15. 3. Celebrities are all important people. OVERSIMPLIFICATION 14
1. In the state football playoffs, the Tigers were a real Cinderella team. ALLUSION
2. Rainsford from “The Most Dangerous Game” describes himself: “I was the mouse to the Cossack’s cat.” METAPHOR
3. Celebrities are all important people. OVERSIMPLIFICATION
4. Romeo and Juliet “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!” HYPERBOLE
5. Isaac Singer “The short story is like a room to be unfurnished; the novel is like a warehouse.” SIMILE